Mangalore: Sahyadri Institute of Health Sciences  Observes World AIDS Day 
 
Pics: Spoorthy Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore(RS/SP)
 
Mangalore, Dec 1: Spreading of awareness among the people about the health hazards can only control diseases like AIDS, and there is a need to impart health education to the children at the primary level itself, said district in-charge minister, Krishna Palemar, here on Tuesday December 1.
 
Speaking on the occasion of programmes organized as part of the  `World Aids Day -2009’ observation by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and Sahyadri Institute of Health Sciences  at Town Hall in the city, he said that the HIV positive patients need not be kept confined, away from others. They should be treated well. Imparting health education in primary schools can play a major role in creating awareness among the public about such health conditions and remove their wrong notions about them, he added.
 

The disease is not caused by curse, but it is prevalent because of some social problems, he said, adding that the governments are involved actively with the creation of awareness among the public. But students, youths and social service organizations have major responsibility in creating awareness to stop more persons contracting the disease, and prevent the people having this disease from involving in activities that spread the same to others, he said.
 
Manjunath Bhandary, president of Bhandary Foundation, said that the nursing students, who are part of the noble profession of healthcare, should involve with social service activities  like creating and spreading awareness about AIDS and HIV. They would do well to concentrate their efforts towards the rural areas, where a sizeable number of patients of this deadly disease are being treated in an unscientific manner, and most of the HIV positive persons in villalges are kept in isolation, he stated.
 
Dr S Ramananda Shetty, vice-chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Balachandra Rao, deputy general manager of Canara Bank and Dr Jayakara Shetty, Syndicate member of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, were the chief guests.
 
Suresh Salian, a HIV positive person, spoke at the programme on the treatment methods and the problems he has been facing in the society. He said that he has been living without any fear, after his body was infected with HIV virus unknowingly.
 
Principal, Irene Veigas, and vice-principal, Jacinta Veigas, were also present. Students of the institute performed socio-drama, created and displayed a collage and held a rally in the city as part of their spread awareness about AIDS.